ABU DHABI - José Mourinho spent over half an hour answering questions from the local and international press after this morning's training session at the Zayed Sports City Stadium. "This stay in Abu Dhabi has been excellent from every aspect, and it has given the players the chance to experiment a new reality," he said during the press conference to mark Inter's stay in the Persian Gulf. "On 2 January there is a match against Al Hilal in Riyadh. We will play it with great respect for the opponent, the occasion and the crowd. We know it will be a friendly, but it will be challenging and it is a very important test ahead of the resumption of the championship. However, we have heavy legs due to the preparation we are doing, and we might get beaten."
On their return to Italy, Inter travel to Chievo in a midweek fixture before hosting Siena in what will be the halfway point in the season. "The championship is always very hard in Italy. Juventus, Milan, Roma and all the big clubs are playing to win the Scudetto and all the other matches are hard too, even the ones against teams that are not in the top positions in the table, commented Mourinho, who is satisfied with what he achieved in 2009. "The championship is the competition that tells you if you have worked well or badly. Winning the Scudetto was fundamental for our self-esteem and to understand what we did well and what we did less well." Instead, the objectives for 2010 are clear and according to Mourinho Inter can succeed with a bit of luck. "I hope we win the championship again and I hope we deserve the luck to go as far as possible in the Champions League. You make your own luck with work and determination. We are never satisfied. We always want to improve, but I can't say I'm not happy with what 2009 gave me."
With regard to the future, Mourinho was asked about the recent article in The Sun which spoke of an imminent return to the Premier League. "I was happy in England and I have always said so, but many like changing my words," he replied. "I also said that I have a contract with Inter and I want to respect it until its expiry. I obviously can't know today what will happen after, but I'm not saying I didn't say I would like to return to England one day. I said the same thing the day after leaving Chelsea, so I don't see what's new apart from the fact that my opinion has been exploited yet again."
Mourinho does not have an easy relationship with the media and the Portuguese explained his thoughts about Italy since arriving at Inter a year and a half ago. "I don't feel uneasiness in Italy and I don't generally talk about this country because I'm no one to tackle certain matters. When I say I don't I like it much, I'm referring specifically to my relationship with the media. For me it's the journalists' fault, for the journalists it's my fault. I know that it's a battle lost from the start because there are many journalists and there's just one me. I can accept losing the war, but not my independence, my being politically correct and saying always what I think. However, I think that with a bit of respect we can move forward. An example? I told The Sun that I don't like abandoning projects halfway, and that I want to respect my contract with Inter. But it was written that I want to leave Inter in June..."
From his future to the transfer window, Mourinho refused to say if there will be any new arrivals at Inter in January. "I don't want to reply to questions about this, otherwise the papers will make a headline tomorrow," he said. "I can only say that I am happy with the players I have in this squad, and that I haven't asked my club to buy or sell. Pandev? Neither president Moratti nor Branca or Oriali have said: 'He's yours and he will arrive in Milan on that day'. Having said this, everyone knows that I like Pandev because he can give Inter a different balance, thanks to his character, technical characteristics and tactical multifunctionality."
Back to the championship and the possibility of seeing Samuel Eto'o on the pitch against Chievo, Mourinho admitted. "If I were Cameroon coach Le Guen I would let Samuel play that match because if the player wants to, if the player is happy for this, then I would let him play. After all, Cameroon play their first cup match on 13 January. Besides, in the last Africa Cup of Nations, Eto'o left the competition halfway through to return to Spain and play a match with Barcelona, and then he returned to Africa. If he had permission that time, in a very particular situation, then I expect them to give him permission again this time."
Source by inter.it
